New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP039’

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having red flowers with red-purple eyes, and a compact plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP039’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guinea impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida hort, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP039’. ‘SAKIMP039’ originated from an interspecific hybridization in Misato, Japan between the proprietary female Impatiens line ‘NH-248-13H’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Impatiens line ‘NH-312-36KH’ (unpatented).

In June 2011, the parental lines were crossed and a population of F1 plants was created. The F1 plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open-field trial. The criteria for plant selection included deep flower color and vigorous rooting. At the completion of the trial, one single plant selection designated ‘M2013-191’ was made based on the above criteria and vegetatively propagated. From June to August 2013, the selection was evaluated in an open-field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and re-evaluated for stability of traits. The selection, subsequently named ‘SAKIMP039’, was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via shoot-tip cuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Red flowers with red-purple eyes; and     -   2. A compact plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP039’. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001). Data was collected from plants grown about 7 months from propagation by terminal cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.         -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrida hort.         -   Common.—Impatiens.         -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP039’. -   Growth:     -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse             located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based             growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,             10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or             every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were             top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing             20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical             average air temperature was 24° C. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety             ‘NH-248-13H’.         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety             ‘NH-312-36KH’. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Compact.         -   Height.—29.0 cm from the soil line to the top of the             foliage.         -   Spread.—44.0 cm.         -   Number of branches per plant.—14 total with 8 main branches.         -   Length of branches.—2.0 cm from the soil line to the first             node, 10.0 cm total.         -   Diameter of branches.—2.5 cm for the main branch, 1.0 cm to             1.5 cm for the other secondary branches.         -   Color of the branches.—RHS 59A (Red-purple) with slight RHS             144B (Yellow-green).         -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as the             temperature is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue             flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple) with slight RHS 144B             (Yellow-green).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple).         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Description.—Strong; circular in cross-section, smooth and             shiny.         -   Length.—5.0 cm to 8.0 cm from the first to the second node;             10.0 cm to 11.0 cm total.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—5.0 cm; 3.5 cm to 5.0 cm from the first             node to the second node. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node; opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull and waxy.         -   Length.—6.5 cm.         -   Width.—2.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Yellow-green). Lower             surface: RHS 138A (Green).         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Surface texture.—No pubescence.         -   Petiole.—Length: 8.0 mm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: Closest to             RHS 145D (Yellow-green). Surface texture: Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—Closest to             RHS 145C (Yellow-green). -   Flowers:     -   -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;             about 10 flower buds.         -   Number of flower buds per plant.—Approximately 50 to 60 in             bloom.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.         -   Flower type.—Single with spur.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.         -   Diameter.—5.0 cm.         -   Depth.—1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length:             2.7 cm. Width: 2.2 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate             (cleaved). Margin: Entire. Base: Attenuate. Color: Upper             surface: Closest to RHS 46A (Red). Lower surface: Closest to             but brighter than RHS 63A (Red-purple). Eye zone: RHS 61A             (Red-purple). -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal number per flower.—2.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 60A (Red-purple) with slight             RHS 144B (Yellow-green) at the tip. Lower surface: RHS 60A             (Red-purple) with slight RHS 142D (Yellow-green).         -   Sepal length.—1.0 cm.         -   Sepal diameter.—4.0 mm.         -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.         -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous. -   Bud:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Length.—1.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid longitudinal cross-section.         -   Color.—Closest to but brighter than RHS 60A (Red-purple). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 60A (Red-purple) with slight RHS 144C             (Yellow-green).         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Spur:     -   -   Color.—RHS 58A (Red-purple).         -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.         -   Length.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen form.—Fused; split into 4 lobes.         -   Stamen number.—5.         -   Filament form.—Free.         -   Anther length.—4.0 mm.         -   Anther color.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-purple).         -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 59A (Red-purple).         -   Style color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green).         -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.         -   Ovary surface color.—Closest to RHS 145B (Yellow-green).         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Pollen description.—Powdery.         -   Seed production.—Not observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘SAKIMP039’ is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP039’ ‘NH-248-1311’ ‘NH-312-36M1’ Flower color Red with Red- Orange Dark red purple eyes Plant growth habit Compact Compact Vigorous

When ‘SAKIMP039’ compared to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘SAKIMP030’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,015), the following differences as described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP039’ ‘SAKIMP030’ Petal color, upper Closest to RHS 46A (Red) Closest to but darker surface than RHS 45A (Red) Spur color Closest to but brighter than RHS 61B RHS 58A (Red-purple) (Red-purple) Mature leaf color, RHS 139A Darker than RHS upper surface (Yellow-green) 147A (Yellow-green) 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP039’ as described and illustrated herein. 